The last week of September, I was able to make my first trip back to Mbale to support and give direction within the mental health project of JENGA. Â Being there with everyone was such a joy and very productive! Â So happy to be continuing to work with these fine people.
Inevitably, due to our sudden departure as a family from Uganda, certain aspects of the project werenât as solidified as they could have been, so this visit became an essential time of clarifying roles and tying up loose ends. Â Titus, the counseling psychologist now employed full-time within the hospital in my former role, has done an excellent job of continuing to integrate psychological services into the treatment team. Â This is not an easy task! Â Itâs one that requires some finesse - showing the other clinicians that we are with them, not against them, but that there are some changes weâd like to see within the unit. Â Two other âlay counselors,â to whom we have provided training in basic counseling skills, are also now on track to be a vital presence in the hospital. Â
A significant amount of my time in Mbale was spent helping this team of three become more connected with one another, and feel confident in their roles in serving the mental health unit. Â Not only that, but I was able to help them get more acquainted with the other clinicians in the hospital as well. Â Iâm finding that in this role, I can focus my limited time on providing vision and bringing unity to Ugandans as they carry out the work. Â
At the end of my time, I took they guys out to Mt Elgon Hotel, a favorite among expats, but rarely frequented by the locals. Â They spent a significant amount of time interrogating the waitress about menu options, from the pizza (âwhat are the contents of this?â) to the bacon wrapped chicken (âpork and chicken are within one?â). Â Lots of laughter at this final meeting.
Left to right: Patrick, with Mental Health Uganda, an NGO focusing on community awareness. Â Pastor Philip and Joseph, the two men working part-time for JENGA on the mental health unit, providing spiritual support and basic counseling. Â Titus, the counseling psychologist who took over for me full-time.
In addition to time spent with the team, Titus and I led a follow-up training from our last session with all the JENGA staff about mental health disorders and basic counseling skills. Â The staff are involved in a variety of ministry projects, which all intersect with mental health in some way. Â Pastors can benefit from learning counseling skills and community workers regularly interact with people who have psychological illness and addiction. Â They have so many questions for us, and have really tried to soak up the knowledge.
Recovery groups are another arm of this project, and during my trip I was able to meet with and help equip leaders from two new groups that are kicking off this month. Â One group which continues is in the slum area of Namatala, while two new groups are in Mooni and Musoto, the other major slum areas for home brewing and selling alcohol. Â Musoto is literally overrun by the business and consumption of the local âwaragiâ alcohol. Â Walking through the community you see and smell the runoff waste from the brewing process. Â Starting an alcohol recovery group in this place is a first, and a completely novel concept for a community whose youth regularly consume the drink. Â Providing this resource is a first step to changing a system that is 100% conducive to raising up addicts. Â Education and prevention is another part of the program that is beginning. Â Titus and several interns have done educational seminars at local schools to inform young people of the deadly effects of this and other street drugs. Â We pray that God will keep growing this movement in Mbale and all throughout Uganda, the highest per-capita alcohol consuming nation in Africa, and among the top ten in the world.
Above: Â Leaders of the Namatala recovery group.
Below: Â An outpatient clinic in Mooni we are using start a new recovery group. Painted using a highlighter, it really pops.
Above and below: Â These barrels of fermenting product are seen scattered all about the slum of Musoto, one of the heaviest drinking areas around Mbale. Â The smell is nauseating, and the waste product from the brewing process is dumped in pits.
This mini-documentary by VICE News [ https://youtu.be/zL3UHF5SlEU ] isnât perfect for a variety of reasons. Â Some of the cultural aspects are dissimilar to my experience, but it does give some background and provides visuals on Ugandaâs home-brewed alcohol problem. Â Check it out!
We left so much in Mbale - friends from the Ugandan and expat communities who supported us through difficult times and an organization that we loved working with. Â One night, as I was going to bed, staying in our old house in Wesleyâs room, the thought came to me that God was watching us as we painted this room. Â As we spent our first of, what we expected to be, several years in Mbale, settling in and preparing a place to call home, he walked with us knowing that it wasnât going to be our home for long. Â He knew the tragedy and the difficult road weâd have to walk. Itâs tough to grieve this loss, and I often feel angry at God for what has happened; but I do have hope that he is redeeming this loss, that our preparation and dedication to his work, even our time spent painting the walls, wasnât a waste.
Thanks for following and supporting us throughout this time. Â Iâm hopeful to return to Mbale for another similar trip Spring 2017.
Above: Â My last day was spent celebrating the marriage of one of my best Ugandan friends, Mathew, to his lovely bride, Esther. Â My tie is a little crooked after 7 hours of festivities.
Below: Â Titus, sitting in his office in the psychiatric ward like a boss. Â He is the counseling psychologist who is helping manage the JENGA mental health project. Â So glad to have linked up with this guy!